Bike lifter racket busted, five arrested

Kendrapara, Orissa, Mar 16 (UNI) Police have unearthed an inter district bike lifter racket by arresting five notorious criminals during a raid in Talchua under Bhitarkanika Forest yesterday.

The police team led by Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Suresh Kumar Palsania also seized four motor bike and two mobile phones from them.

Sources said the criminals were planning to execute a dacoity in Talchua area after congregating inside the forest area near Krishnanagar under Bhitarkanika National Park.

Police claimed that the five-member gang belonged to Kendrapara based dreaded criminal Tito gang and the Cuttack-based gangster Madha Khuntia.

Police said Sk.Gulam Mustafa, a poacher, who was the kingpin in the racket and arrested in a couple of wildlife offence cases, sustained minor injury in police firing while trying to flee from the scene.

They were produced before the Additional District Judge Court here today under Section 399, 402, 302 IPC and 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. All the accused were sent to jail custody after their bail applications were rejected by the court.

Police said a couple of wanted criminals managed to escape from the scene, adding that raids were being conducted at various places in the district to nab them.